Episode 350: Hoes of History: Sarah Bickford

Before Marilyn Monroe or Cindy Crawford, there was Audrey Munson — the original American muse. In the early 1900s, her face and figure inspired hundreds of statues across New York City and beyond. She was celebrated as “Miss Manhattan,” immortalized in marble and bronze, and became the first woman to appear fully nude in an American film. But behind the fame was a haunting story of exploitation, scandal, and tragedy. In this episode, we uncover how the woman who embodied beauty and art became forgotten by history — living her final decades in an asylum, her legacy hidden in plain sight on city streets. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: [email protected]

Dominique Crenn is the first woman in the United States to earn three Michelin stars. Raised in France and later moving to the U.S. to pursue her culinary ambitions, Dominique built a career defined by creativity, persistence, and leadership in an industry long dominated by men.  We’ll cover her early influences, her rise in the restaurant world, and the challenges she faced along the way—including her public battle with breast cancer. We’ll also highlight her commitment to sustainability and her role as an advocate for diversity and equity in the culinary field. You'll even get a little education on how the Michelin stars work and other esteemed awards in the culinary world.  Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: [email protected]

Sarah Gammon Bickford was the first Black woman in the United States to own a public utility. Born into slavery in Tennessee in 1852, Sarah’s early life was marked by hardship, resilience, and a determination to carve out her own destiny. After emancipation, she moved west to Virginia City, Montana—where she reinvented herself in a place few African American women dared to go. Sarah’s story is one of reinvention and quiet revolution. From running a boarding house and candy store to taking ownership of Virginia City’s water company, she became a respected entrepreneur in a male-dominated frontier town. Along the way, she raised a family, overcame personal losses, and turned the hot springs and waterworks into symbols of both survival and success. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: [email protected]

Kathryn Bigelow is a trailblazing filmmaker who shattered glass ceilings in Hollywood. From her early days as a painter and experimental filmmaker to becoming the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Director, Kathryn’s journey is one of ambition, creativity, and resilience. We explore her groundbreaking films, including The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty, and her dramatic connection to James Cameron.  Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: [email protected]  

Before Marilyn, before Madonna, before the femme fatales of noir, there was Theda Bara—the original “Vamp” of the silver screen. In this episode, we explore the life of the woman who seduced audiences in the silent film era, becoming one of cinema’s first true icons. From her carefully crafted mystique and exotic public persona to her trailblazing roles that challenged early 20th-century norms of femininity and sexuality, Theda Bara’s influence on Hollywood was as bold as it was fleeting. Though most of her films have been lost to time, her impact on culture and stardom lives on. We’ll uncover how a young woman from Cincinnati reinvented herself into a legendary figure of desire, scandal, and power—and why her story is still worth remembering today. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: [email protected]

Eleanor of Aquitaine was no ordinary queen—she was one of the most powerful and influential women of the Middle Ages. Born into immense wealth and power, she became Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, then twice a queen—first of France and later of England. Her life reads like a medieval epic: she led armies on crusade, was a patron of the arts who helped shape the courtly love tradition, and maneuvered through dangerous political rivalries that defined Europe for centuries. In this episode, we dive into Eleanor’s extraordinary journey—from her bold spirit as a young duchess to her role as a mother of kings, including Richard the Lionheart and John. We’ll explore her political genius, her resilience through imprisonment, and her lasting legacy as a trailblazer who challenged the limits placed on women in her time. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: [email protected]

Behind the towering legacy of Victor Hugo lies a lesser-known, haunting tale—that of his youngest daughter, Adèle. Born into privilege and brilliance, Adèle possessed a vivid mind, a gift for writing, and an independent spirit. Yet her life took a tragic turn, marked by obsessive love, defiance of societal norms, and an unrelenting battle with mental illness. In this episode, we explore Adèle Hugo’s remarkable yet heartbreaking journey—from her childhood in the literary salons of Paris, to her daring pursuit of a British officer across oceans, to her final years in silence and seclusion. Her story is one of passion, rebellion, and the price of living in the shadow of greatness. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: [email protected]

Before she was America’s most beloved sex therapist, Dr. Ruth Westheimer survived the Holocaust, trained as a sniper, and earned her doctorate in education. In this episode, we dive into the fascinating and unexpected journey of Dr. Ruth—from a childhood shattered by war to her rise as a cultural icon who changed the conversation around sex, pleasure, and relationships. With her unmistakable voice, bold candor, and boundless enthusiasm, Dr. Ruth not only broke taboos—she built a legacy. Tune in as we explore how a 4’7” powerhouse helped generations feel more confident and connected in the bedroom and beyond. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: [email protected]

Madame de La Fayette was one of the first women in history to publish a bestselling novel and forever change French literature. Born into nobility in 1634, Marie-Madeleine Pioche de La Vergne defied expectations of women in her era by wielding a sharp intellect and a quiet yet powerful pen. Her groundbreaking novel La Princesse de Clèves, published anonymously in 1678, is considered the first modern French novel and remains a cornerstone of literary study today. We trace her journey from the opulent salons of 17th-century Paris, where she mingled with the likes of La Rochefoucauld and Madame de Sévigné, to the quiet resilience she showed as a woman navigating politics, romance, and writing in a time when women were rarely seen—let alone heard. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: [email protected]

She was the voice of a generation—America's sweetheart with a heartbreaking soprano that defined the late '50s and early '60s. In this episode, we dive into the extraordinary life of Connie Francis, the first female pop star to top the Billboard charts, whose emotional ballads and bilingual charm broke barriers across the globe. From her meteoric rise with “Who’s Sorry Now” to the deep personal tragedies that nearly silenced her career, we explore the resilience behind the icon. But Connie’s story doesn’t end in the past. Thanks to TikTok, her soulful hit “Pretty Little Baby” is enjoying a viral resurgence, soundtracking modern moments of longing and nostalgia. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: [email protected]